Have just installed a Seagate external harddrive 500GB it comes up on my computor but I do not know what to do next to download my files to it. Michaela

You can recover data from formatted hard drive with data recovery software.But you can't get your data back for free. However,there are a few honest software publishers that can get the data back for a discounted fee, though. I know that Tenorshare Data Recovery is only $24.95 right now, which is pretty cheap in my opinion.I used it and it worked. Get it from http://www.any-data-recovery.com/product/datarecoverystandard.htm

did you install the software included on the seagate?
if not install it and you can setup the back up/schedule.
or you can use windows backup to schedule backups to the seagate drive.

Maybe your External HardDrive has failed, you maybe able to re-use the HardDrive inside if you can't retrieve files from your HardDrive to your P.C.

If you get no joy using the Troubleshooting Guide then try this...
You will need to check You Tube to find a Dismantle on your product and follow the step guide on here, the procedure should be similar.
Check 1st that your External HDD has an P.C. internal HDD inside, from You Tube, before dismatle of your External HDD.
Once your happy that it has continue reading and follow the step guide on the link below.
My neighbour has the Seagate FreeAgent Desk 500GB, and in under 2 weeks it started to beep and was not reconized by any Laptop or P.C. if this is the same for you with any FreeAgent Desk series ( not GO series, different procedure for GO products). You maybe in luck click this link, you may have to register in the forums to view thread.... http://www.yo-lid.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=32&t=84 Thread can be found in 'Technical' under 'General Technical Issues'

Hi, please anyone feel free to register on the site that the link takes you to so you can see the thread, it shows a link from You Tube on how to take the Seagate apart so anyone with the problem with the unit just making beep sounds and not being reconized by their P.C.
As all the threads i saw like my 1st thread reporting about my friends Seagate FreeAgent Desk 500GB asking about his problem and no-one was getting replies, and they where getting frustrated, I decided to find out. Someone has replied to my other thread with the same answer as taking it apart and connecting it to a P.C. So to help others who need their important files from the external HardDrive I have made a step by step guide so even novice P.C. users like myself can attempt to sort it out without being charged loads $-£ etc.. It seems unfair for all these users to buy something new and with in 1 week - 2 months it fails and they have important files etc.. stuck on the HardDrive and being charge to retrieve it. I'm not looking to cause any trouble just want to help others out. http://www.yo-lid.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=32&t​=84 You will find the thread in 'Technical ' under 'General Technical Issues ' please let me know how you get on thanks.

is the power frequency different out in india, it's not just the voltages you have to watch!

If you can remove the hard drives and use a usb interface to connect them then software like filescavanger will recover files providing the hard spins up ok.

the soft ware that comes with it will also be erased, as it is a windows based identification,seagate free agent has mac utilities on its site, try to find out on www.seagate.com. you will find one for mac format and mac installation .

If the Seagate has been re-formatted, then you will have to go through the re-install of the drive to your MAC, the drive should have come with it's own formatting tools and drivers. These external drives usually respond better with a small program that installs a set of driver tools. If you do not have the original freeagent disc, go to the Seagate support page, look up the model of the drive and download the program and drivers for that model and version.

DO NOT buy a Seagate freeagent drive under any condition if it comes as a gift return it or re-gift to some one you don't like. Like so many others my 500GB external drive just quit working. Has only been plugged in about 6 times and then back into a cabinet to keep safe. In 10 years between 2 workstations 3 laptops and 4 external drives. The only drives that have ever gone bad are the Seagates and newer Maxators. I still have 4 Western digital drives that still work and get used in an external case for back up. They have never failed. Seagate should be responsible for data time and mental anguish.

Its easy go this webpage and download the driver, load the driver and you will be fine.
http://www.seagate.com/www/en-us/support/downloads/

let me know if you need any other help.

Regards

I’m happy to help further over the phone at https://www.6ya.com/expert/mustafa_06f84c65ab5cc745

external harddrive turn them selves off after 5 minutes if it isn't being used.